Gainsborough author Dan releases new novel on fear

A successful Gainsborough writer has just released his brand new novel - all about peoples’ different fears and phobias.
Acclaimed local writer Dan Thompson with his latest book 'The Caseworkers Memoirs'.Acclaimed local writer Dan Thompson with his latest book 'The Caseworkers Memoirs'.
Acclaimed local writer Dan Thompson with his latest book 'The Caseworkers Memoirs'.

Dan Thompson’s previous release was a critically acclaimed short e-book called ‘Life Is All But A Vast Array Of Colours’, a book of poems dedicated to his step-mum Liz Mooney - a popular local lady who died of pancreatic cancer in 2009.

Now, after the international success of his last book, The 25-year-old from Drover’s Court on Lea Road has released ‘The Caseworker’s Memoirs - a book that tackles the theme of fear.

“In November of last year I was rushed into hospital for an operation,” saidDan. “While I was recovering, there were a lot of people on the ward or coming in and saying that they were afraid of needles and hospitals.”

Acclaimed local writer Dan Thompson with his latest book 'The Caseworkers Memoirs'.Acclaimed local writer Dan Thompson with his latest book 'The Caseworkers Memoirs'.
Acclaimed local writer Dan Thompson with his latest book 'The Caseworkers Memoirs'.

“Then, when I loeft hospital I watched a documentary about it and I got thinking about peoples’ fears in general.”

He continued: “I started to write a collection of short stories about phobias, but then I realised that I needed something to connect all of the stories together.”

That’s when Dan came up with a grieving widower called Malcol - a former-therapist struggling to come to terms with his loss and move on with his life.

That is until his daughter gives him a leather-bound notebook to write down his memories. Haunted by his dreams of his former occupation, Malcolm begins to re-live his encounters of treating people with various phobias.

Dan went on: “The book isn’t just a tale of one man’s grief, but also the tale of seven other people that are affected by real phobias.”

Not only that, but the book has already received rave reviews.

“It’s been really well-received on Amazon and I’ve been contacted by book bloggers who have really enjoyed it - I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” said Dan.

All of this comes after the success of his last book - a short collection of poems in memory if his step-mum Liz Mooney.

“That wass great, because half of the money went to charity and I never expected it to get the attention that it did,” said Dan.

“A lot of people from around the world got in contact to say that they were really touched by it - even this lady from Australia whose husband had recently died from pancreatic cancer and said that it reminded her of all of the wonderful times they spend together.”

Dan added: “If this book gets a similar response then that would be fantastic.”

The Caseworker’s Memoirs by Dan Thompson is available now from www.amazon.co.uk and Gainsborough Library.